POLICE swooped on six homes in raids to seize stolen power tools.

They recovered 124 power and garden tools in the blitz on five properties in Bridport and one in Pymore.

Officers joined forces with colleagues from Devon and Cornwall for the ‘swift and decisive’ operation.

The haul included a new outboard marine engine.

Police arrested three men from the Bridport area, aged 31, 42 and 66.

Police are appealing for information and for anyone who has had items stolen to come forward.

PC Scott McGregor, of Bridport Police, said: “The aim of this operation was to recover stolen garden and power tools, the loss of which has a huge impact on both businesses and individuals.

“We hope to return as many items as we can to their rightful owners.

“By using swift, decisive tactics and in a joint operation with other forces, we intend to disrupt anyone engaging in this type of criminal activity.”

He added: “Any further information provided by the public via Crimestoppers will be robustly acted upon in a similar fashion.”

Officers launched the operation last Wednesday.

Given the number of items seized and the lengthy enquiries, police say all the men arrested have been bailed until October.

Devon and Cornwall Police officers were among those on the scene outside Market Square in South Street.

More officers were also seen at an address in Gundry Lane.

Neighbours saw the police but had no idea what the raids were about.

One woman in Castle Square, who did not want to be named, said: “I only looked out the window because they bashed so hard on the door it sounded like it was my back door.

“They looked inside a dog pound in the garden.

“There was a police dog handler vehicle parked over the road in the council works but they didn’t get the dog out though.

“It is not the sort of the thing that happens here every day.”

If you have any information or have had power tools stolen, call the police on 01305 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.